Combined tuning instrument and mechanical setting therefor



March 4, 1941. J. H. TEAF ETAL 2,233,651

COMBINED TUNING INSTRUMENT AND MECHANICAL SETTING THEREFOR Filed April 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 if j n n 5 g I! n 9% I /5 15 2 m if 115' 74 g jg 1 f .INVENTOR c7057? /7- 733a ATTORNEY March 4, 1941. J, H, TEAF Em 2,233,651

COMBINED TUNING INSTRUMENT AND MECHANICAL SETTING THEREFOR Filed April 27, 1939 2 SheetsSheet 2 @DJ'ZQ/{i ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES amass PATENT OFFICE COMBINED TUNING INSTRUMENT AND MECHANICAL SETTING THEREFOR Jersey Application April 27, 1939, Serial No. 270,352

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a unitary tuning structure for a radio receiving set in which the tuning device or devices, such as condensers, form a part of the complete structure which includes mechanical devices, one for each radio station that is desired to be tuned in.

vide an improved type of unitary structure-or instrument-which will attain all the objects set forth in the said application, so that these objects need not be specifically referred to herein.

Our present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is approximately a full-size plan view of a three-gang'condenser with mechanical devices for tuning in any one of eight different stations within the broadcast range, the fourth manual from the left being shown in tuning position in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on a reduced scale on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of what might be termed the manual operating member shown in Figure 3, but looking at the reverse side thereof.

Figure '5 is a plan view of the clamping strip shown in Figure 3.

Figure 61a an end view of Figure 4, looking from right to left. I

Figure 7 is a view of a modified form of slidable member somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a view of Figure 7 looking from left to right.

Figure 9 is a view of Figure 4, looking down on the top. I

In the different views, I and 2 are the end plates of the condenser which are fastened together by the frame rods3 and 4,. and auxiliary bars 5 and 3. The tiebars 5 and 6 carry insulators I for supporting the stator groups of plates. As shown in Figure 1, only the upper insulators I are visible. The stator tiebars are attached to the metallic strips 8 in a manner as set forth in Therefore, in order to Cramer Patent 2,087,902. The insulators l at the bottom are fastened to the tiebar 5. Mounted between the end plates I and 2 in bearings, as set forth in Cramer Patent 1,800,719, is a rotatable structure having a shaft 8 carrying yokes Ii 9 and III at points adjacent the end plates I and 2. The yokes 9 and I0 are connected by bars II and I2. Supplemental yokes, such as I3 and I4, may be used to stiffen the bars II and I2 intermediate their ends. One or more grounding and 10 friction-applying clips I5 are distributed along the rotor shaft, one of the clips engaging the end plate 2, and the others being mounted on the shield plates I6 and I'I.

Connected between the end plates I and 2 is v a front plate I8 having a plurality of openings or perforations I9 therein to accommodate the slidable members which are shown more in de'- tail in Figures 3 to 8 inclusive. A description of one of the sliding members will do for all, except the modified form shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Referring to the form shown in Figures 3 and 4, the slidable member is composed of a bar member 20 having a rearwardly projecting end 2I which passes through guide slots in the support bar 22 extending between the end plates I and 2. The bar 20 has a forwardly extending part 23 to receive an operating member or push-button which also covers the end of the portion 24 which has a lug 25 supporting one end of the adjusting member 26. The portion 24 also has a forwardly positioned lug 21 preferably formed directly from the material thereof to support the inner end of the adjusting member 26.

Fastened to the back side of the member 20 by a any satisfactory manner as by separate rivets or spot welds 28 is a backing and stifiening member or plate 29. The member 29 has an inwardly turned lug 30 which passes in front of the setting device 3I which has an arcuately formed seat 32 engaging a corresponding seat in the bar 20. Fastened to the bar 20 is a clamping strip 33, holes 34 being provided in the member 33 for the rivets. The member 33 has fingers 35 and 36 which are formed outwardly and downwardly over a camming device 31. The camming member 31 has a slot in one end through which passes the forwardly positioned lug 21 of the sliding bar 20. The camming device 31 is curvilinearly formed so as more clearly shown in Figure 9, and has a forwardly engaging surface 38 which is adapted to engage the clamping strip 33 so that when the adjusting member 26 is turned, its inner end engages the camming device 31 at the point 33,

causing the camming member 31 to tilt on the lug 21, whereby its inner engaging edge 38 will press against the clamping member 33 and force it into engagement with the setting device 3| which is pushed or clamped against the backing and stiffening member 29 which, as has been explained, is alongside the flat plate 2| and overlaps the setting device 3| in whatever position of adjustment it may take.

It may be said in passing that the device 3| is substantially the same as the setting device shown and described in our application previously referred to, but the method of holding this in position we consider to be a decided improve-;

In Figures 7 and 8 the slidable unit is the same as in Figures 3 and 4, but the camming device is different in that the adjusting member 40, while carried by the same lugs 25 and 21, is not threaded but has a notch in the outer end adjacent the lug 25 to receive a split locking washer 4| which holds the member 40 in position in the lugs. To the inner endof the adjusting member 40 is attached or formed directly thereon, a camming member 42 which engages the clamping member 33 and presses it into engagement with the setting device 3| the same as the. camming device 31, which presses the setting device 3| against the backing member 29.

The member 33 serves to enlarge the pressure areaagainst the setting device 3| and it also acts as a spring action friction retainer for 3| when the camming device is in unlocked position, and its fingers 35 and 36 hold the camming device in its position on the lug 21, should the screw 26 be removed or backed away out of contact with the camming device 31. A

From what has been said above, it will be clear how each one of the slidable units is set to correspond to a given frequency or broadcast station. When the members 26 or 40 are turned to loosen the camming member, the sliding unit is pushed all the way in so that the engaging ends 43and 44 will engage the bars H and it on the rotor structure, it being understood that the rotor has been turned by the ordinary manual control button connected to the shaft 8 in any satisfactory manner, whereby the station is properly tuned. Them'while holding the rotor in this tuned position and pushing in the sliding unit,

the setting device 35 will slide on its seat so that both the engagement ends 33 and M will be in operative engagement with the bars ii and i2, and in this position the members 28 and d6 are set up to lock the camrning device in its locking or gripping position. After this is done, the sliding member is released and restored to normal positionby its spring t5. When it is desired to listen to this station again, all that is required is the pushing in of the sliding unit or manual which has been set to that station as just described.

While we have shown certain preferred details for carrying our invention into practice, it will be understood that these may be varied without departing from the spirit of our invention or the including a frame, tuning elements, one of which is movably carried within the frame, a plurality of slidable members also carried by the frame for moving said movable element to a predetermined tuning position, each of the movable members comprising a unit slidably mounted in the frame, the unit including, a push button member and a backing plate therefor, a setting device bodily slidably positioned. on the push button member and guided by the backingplate l0 and formed to successively engage the movable tuning element at arcuately spaced points to turn'thesame to a predetermined position as defined by the setting device, camming means for clampingthe setting device against said backing 15 plate in an adjusted position, and means carried on the sliding unit for operating the cammng means.

2. A tuning apparatus for a radio receiving set including a frame, tuning elements, one of which is movably carried within the frame, a plurality of slidable members also carried by the frame for moving said movable element to a predetermined tuning position, each of the movable members comprising a unit slidably mounted in the frame, the unit including a flat plate having an arcuately formed surface on an edge toward the tuning elements, an adjustable setting device to successively engage the movable tuning element at arcuately spaced points and having a surface to fit that on said plate, a second .plate fastened alongside and to the first plate and overlapping the setting device and having a claw bent over to retain and guide the setting device when it is being adjusted, a clamping strip overlying at least a portion of the setting device, cammlng meansfor pressing the .clamping strip against the setting device to hold it in adjusted position against the second plate, and means carried by the sliding unit for operating the camming means to lock the setting device in operative position.

3. A tuning apparatus for a radio receiving set including a frame, tuning elements,;one of which is movably carriedwithin the frame, a plurality of slidable members also carried by the frame for moving said movable element to a predetermined tuning position, each of the movable members comprising a unit slidably mounted in the frame,

. the unit including a flat plate having an arcuately formed surface on an edge toward the tuning elements, an adjustable setting device tosuccessively engage the movable tuning element at arcuately spaced points and having a surface to fit that on said plate, a second plate fastened alongside and to the first plate and overlapping the setting device and having a. claw bent overto retain and guide the setting device when it is being adjusted, a clamping strip fastened to v the first-mentioned plate and extending over at least of slidable members also-carried by the frame for 7 moving said movable element to apredetermined tuning position, each ofthe' movable. members. comprising a unit slidably mounted in the frame, the unit including a flat plate having an arcuately formed surface on anedge towa'rd the tuning 7 elements, an adjustable setting device to successively engage the movable timing element at arcuately spaced points and having a surface to fit that on said-plate, a second plate'fastened alongside and to the first plate and overlapping the setting device and having a claw bent over to retain and guide the setting device when it is being adjusted, a clamping strip fastened to the first-mentioned plate and extending over at least a part of the setting device, a pair of spaced lugs extending from the first plate and away from the second plate, a cam device having an opening in one end for receiving the lug nearest to the setting device, the opposite end of the cam device overlapping said strip, fingers on said strip for enga in said cam device, and a member operatively carried by said lugs for moving the cam device into clamping engagement with said strip and setting device.

5. A tuning apparatus for a radio receiving set including a frame, timing elements, one of which is movably carried within the frame, a plurality of slidable members also carried by the frame for moving said movable element to a predetermined tuning position, each of the movable members comprising a unit slidably mounted in the frame, the unit including a fiat plate having an arcuately formed surface on an edge toward the tuning elements, an adjustable setting device tov successively engage the movable tuning element at arcuately spaced points and having a surface to fit that on said plate, a second plate fastened alongside and to the first plate and overlapping the setting device and having a claw bent over to retain and guide the setting device when it is being adjusted, a clamping strip fastened to the first-mentioned plate and extending over at least a part of the setting device, a pair of spaced lugs extending from the first plate and away from the second plate, a hook-shaped cam device with an engaging edge of a width to engage said strip along a substantial part of its length over the setting device, the cam device being positioned over that lug nearest said strip which has fingers overlapping the cam device, and a threaded member carried by said lugs for moving the cam device into clamping engagement with said strip and setting device.

6. A tuning apparatus for a radio receiving set including a frame, tuning elements, one of which is movably carried within the frame, a plurality of slidable members also carried by the frame for moving said movable element to a predetermined tuning position, each of the movable members comprising a unit slidably mounted in the frame, the unit including a fiat plate having an arcuately formed surface on an edge toward the tuning elements, an adjustable setting device to successively engage the movable tuning element at arcuately spaced points and having a surface to fit that on said plate, a second plate fastened alongside and to the first plate and overlapping the setting device and having a claw bent over to retain and guide the setting device when it is being adjusted, a clamping strip fastened to the first-mentioned plate and extending over at least a part of the setting device, a pair of spaced lugs extending from the first plate and away from the second plate,v a rod rotatably carried by said lugs and a cam on the rod located over and in engagement with the strip to force it, when the rod is properly turned, into gripping engagement with the setting device..

'7. A tuning apparatus. for a radio receiving set including a frame, tuning elements, one of which is movably carried within the frame, a plurality of slidable members also carriedby the frame for moving saidmovable, elementto apree. determined tuning position, each of the movable members comprising a unit slidably mounted in the frame, the unit including, a main plate and a backing and stifi'ening plate fastened thereto, the main plate having an arcuate surface in its forward edge, a setting device for engaging the movable tuning element and having a surface to fit the said surface on the main plate, the backing plate extending beyond the main plate alongside the setting device and having a claw to guide and support the setting device, a clamping strip extending transversely of the unit and overlapping some portion of the setting device in whatever position it may be set, and means carried by the chitin: pressing the strip into gripping engas ment with the setting device, forcing it against said backing plate extension.

8. A tuning apparatus for a radio receiving set including a frame, tuning elements, one of which is movably carried within the frame, a plurality of slidable members also carried by the frame for moving said movable element to a predetermined tuning position, each of the movable members comprising a unit slidably mounted in the frame, the unit including, a main plate and a backing and stiffening plate fastened thereto, the main plate having anarcuate surface in its forward edge, a setting device for engaging the movable tuning element and having a surface to m; the said surface an the main plate, the

backing plate extending beyond the main plate alongside the setting device and having a claw to guide and support the setting device, a clamping strip of relatively thin metal fastened to the main plate and extending at all times across some portion of one side of the setting device, a cam device carried by the unit, with means for actuating it to press the setting device, through the strip, against the backing plate.

9. A tuning apparatus for a radio set lnclud ing, a frame, a plurality of stator and rotor groups of plates mounted within the frame, the rotor groups of plates being mounted on a common shaft forming a combined rotor structure,

the rotor structure having means for being rotatably acted upon, manually operable units slidably supported by the frame, each of said units having an arcuately formed adjustable elementv with spaced portions to successively engage said means on the rotor structure to turn the same according to the setting of said element, said element being held in adjusted position by side pressure, and means including a main plate and a backing plate for supporting the adjustable element, the backing plate overlapping said adjustable element on one side, iandnaclampingm strip overlapping said element on the opposite side, and a cam device with means for actuating it carried on the main plate for forcing the said element, through the strip, against said backing plate.

10. A mechanical tuning device for a radio receiving set having a rotatable shaft for operating the tuning element, with means associated therewith adapted to be engaged by a part of said tuning device to rotate said shaft and the tuning element, said device including a slidabie structure having a pair of lugs extending at right angles thereto, a setting member supported on said slidable structure forwardly of the lug nearest mounted to engage said means associated with said shaft to turn it, a cam device positioned over said forward in: and overlapping the'setting member and a screw-threaded member car-F -ried by the lugs for operating said cam device 11. A mechanical tuning device for a radio receiving set having a rotatable shaft for operating the tuning element. with means associated therewith adapted to be ensaged by a part of said tuning device to rotate said shaft and the tuning element, said device including a slidable structure having a pair 01 Wis extendinl at rieht angles thereto, a setting member adjustably sup-, ported on the siidable structure for engal na said means associated with said shaft. an operating member carried by said lugs, and cam means overlapping the setting member and actuated by said operating member tor applying pressure to a face of the setting member and clamping'it against a part of the slidabie structure.

' JOHNILTEAI".

AIBERT G. SHAFER. 

